Banana-crate.



PATENTED SEPT. 17, 1907. L. D. FOWLER. BANANA CRATE APPLIUA'TION FILED JAN. 16,1907.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS D. FOWLER, OF OKLAHOMA, OKLAHOMA TERRITORY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO A. D. MARBLE, OF OKLAHOMA, OKLAHOMA TERRITORY.

BANANA-CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 17, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS D. FOWLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oklahoma city, in the county of Oklahoma and Territory of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Banaria-Orates, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to crates for holding fruit, more especially bananas, during the period of transportation, and it consists of two similar sections composed of semi-circular ribs and lateral bars securely attached at their intersections; the said ribs terminating in eyes adapted to receive a lateral rod thus hinging the two sections together in the form of a cylinder and permitting the sections to be taken apart and packed one upon the other; the crate-lining or sack being in two like sections adapted to being tied to the crate and together at their meeting parts.

' The objects of my invention are; first, to provide a strong and durable crate for the transportation of fruit, especially bananas, with a view of protecting the 'fruit; second, to provide a crate which may easily be separated into two parts and those parts nested or packed together during disuse, transportation and storage;

third, to economize space when empty. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in Which- Figure l is a view in elevation of my two-section crate as complete and containing a bunch of bananas, prepared for shipment; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the crate as separated and one of the like sections placed upon the other with their convex portions up, as when empty and being stored; Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 90 Fig. 1; Fig 4 is a plan view of one of the like sections; Fig. 5 is a view of the hinge-rod; Fig. 6 is a part sectional in elevation of one oi the ribs and a lateral bar showing a convenient method of attachment by the use of clamps.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings, A and A are the duplicats or similar sections forming the crate body and consisting of the semi-circular ribs B with the lateral bars or rods 0, being rigidly secured together at their intersections by the clamps a; the said bars or rods being, preferably, formed in pairs U shaped with their ends turned iorming eyes 0 but they may be formed of one continuous wire or red.

The ribs 13 have their ends terminate in eyes B, for passing the hinging-rods D through them and thus securing the two sections together in the form of a cylin der; the said rods D having one end formed into a looplike hook D the end of the loop-hook being bent slightly away from the rod and the portion near its end coming nearly in contact with the red, the loop portion of the hook having sufficient spring quality to latch the said hinge rod in place and yet permit of its removal at will. The ribs B are formed, preferably of spring-steel wire or rod.

The crate lining or sack is in two like sections E and E and are at intervals tied with cord to the crate ribs or bars, B and O, as at b in a manner that the crate shall be about one-and one-half inches from the lining or sack E when the crate is in active use; one edge of each section of lining being provided with eyelets c and the opposite edge with cord loops (2, and the lower ends with the puckering strings e.

In operation, place the two sections in conjunction as shown in Fig. 3, extending the hinging-rods D downward through the eyes B and through the loops d; by the puckering strings e secure the lower edges of the lining or sack firmly together; insert the fruit, or the bunch of bananas with the stem upward and tie the lining or sack tightly about the stem as shown in Fig. 1. When the fruit is removed lrom the crate and it is desired to transport or store it, un-tie the lower end, re move the hinging-rods, separate the two sections, return the hinging-rods and place one section upon the other, preferably with the convex portion upward.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is I 1. In a banana crate, a crate body composed of two semicylindrical sections, each section having a plurality of semicircular transverse ribs provided with eyes at each end, longitudinal U-shaped rods secured to said ribs and two hinge or fastening rods adapted to engage-with the eyes on said ribs for uniting the two crate sections to form a cylindrical crate, said hinge or fastening rods having on one end a spring hook for engagement with one of said ribs for securing saidrod in place.

2. In the combination of a fruit or banana crate composed of two like sections having semi-circular ribs and a series of lateral bars or rods secured thereto at their intersections; the said ribs having circles or eyes formed of their ends which by receiving the hingerod forms a cylinder of the duplicate sections, the two-section lining or sack E and I) suspended Within the crate by means of cordsattached to the said ribs or lateral bars or rods and having one edge of each section of lining provided with eyelets and the opposite edge provided with cord'loops whichthe said hinge-rods pass through, as described and for the purposes set forth.-

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

LEWIS D. FOWLER.

Witnesses:

Fnnn S. COOMBS, CARLOS COMBB. 

